Visas & Employment

Visas can be complicated. We are here to help.

Whether you are an IUPUI student or a department that is hiring a scholar or worker, the Office of International Affairs (OIA) has immigration experts who will help you throughout the visa process.

Immigration information can be complicated, but we will help you understand it, complete your steps on time, follow all rules, and meet all requirements. If you have questions, contact us.

What Is the Difference between a Visa and a Visa Status?

A visa is a stamp in a person's passport that allows him or her to request permission to enter the United States. Your visa status is the immigration category that you were granted when you entered the United States, such as F-1, J-1, or H-1B.

Visa status must be maintained throughout a person's time here in order to stay legally in the United States—and we will help with that.

Student Visas at IUPUI

Only people who are enrolled full time in classes or are obtaining a degree are considered to be students for visa purposes.

You will probably have one of two types of nonimmigrant status:

F-1 status: Most IUPUI students are in F-1 status.

J-1 status: J-1 status is primarily for students who come to the United States during an exchange program, generally for a year or less.

Visas for Faculty Members, Workers, Researchers, and Other Visitors

If a person's main purpose at IUPUI is to work or do research (this includes Ph.D. researchers and research interns), he or she will come to IUPUI on one of the visas below. Most nonstudents come to IUPUI in J-1 or H-1B status.

Most Common Visas for Nonstudents

J-1 Scholar

﻿J-1 Scholar status for nonstudents may be used for professors and researchers (who may stay up to five years), specialists in a field (who stay one year or less), and short-term scholars (who stay six months or less). Learn more about J-1 Scholar status »